Bernard Fox

Bernard Fox, from Etna Drive, Ardoyne, North Belfast, was 16 years old when he was shot dead on 4 December 1972, by members of the British Army's Light Infantry Regiment.

Bernard Fox was the fifth child in a family with eight children. He was a pupil at Holy Cross Primary School before attending St Gabriel's Secondary School on the Crumlin Road. His interests included snooker and soccer. He was the goalkeeper in a local Ardoyne team. His family said he always loved to read and would read almost anything. His older sister described him as a very dependable young lad, whom 'you could trust to do anything'.

Bernard was a member of Na Fianna Eireann, a republican youth organisation, and on the night of his death he and other youths were involved in keeping watch on streets and roads leading into the Ardoyne area in case of attack from unionists/loyalists mobs. Bernard was standing with several youths near the top of Brompton Park, close to the Crumlin Road, when British soldiers opened fire on them from the Crumlin Road. Bernard was hit twice, in the face and in the abdomen. Another youth standing beside him was hit in the leg.

Local residents hearing the gunfire came out of their homes and rushed to the aid of the two wounded youths. An ambulance was called and Bernard was taken to the Mater Hospital, but died shortly after being admitted.

Residents in Brompton Park said the youths were not armed when they were shot. They said Bernard and the other youths were waiting in Brompton Park in case 'an Orange mob, which tried to get into the area the previous night should try again'. One resident said the soldiers who fired on the youths had been 'lying in wait' in an old house on the Crumlin Road before the shooting.

A statement issued by the British Army Press Office after the shooting, said one of their mobile patrols had come under fire from three gunmen in Brompton Park. The spokesperson said their patrol returned fire and two gunmen were seen to fall, but the British soldiers involved were unable to reach the wounded gunmen. After a time the soldiers then observed an ambulance arrive at Brompton Park and take one of the wounded men away. Soon after this Bernard Fox arrived in hospital. The spokesperson added that during a search of the wounded youth's clothing at the hospital a magazine from a sub-machine-gun was found.

An inquest into the killing was held in September 1974. None of the soldiers involved in the shooting attended the hearing. A legal representative for the British army read out their statements. In the statements two of the soldiers, known only as 'A' and 'B', said they were part of a unit concealed in a derelict house at the top Crumlin Road, almost directly facing the top Brompton Park, which was less than 30 yards from their position.

The soldiers claimed as they watched from their hideaway they noticed four youths acting suspiciously near the corner of Brompton Park. One of the youths they said kept moving his hand towards his right trouser pocket, and they suspected he was carrying a pistol. Sometime afterwards a youth was seen to go down on one knee and take aim at a Saracen (British army armoured personnel carrier) parked a short distance away on the Crumlin Road, while another youth stood behind him. The armoured car, which had soldiers inside, was parked on the same side of the road as the opening to Brompton Park. The soldiers said none of the youths were aware at any time they were being secretly observed. The soldiers then claimed there was an exchange of fire and they claimed two hits.
The British army representative at the hearing again stated a magazine from a 'sterling' sub-machine-gun fell from the youth's clothing after he was admitted to hospital. An RUC detective said the magazine contained 20 rounds.

Relatives of Bernard Fox said the description the British soldiers give at the inquest of the clothing worn by the gunman involved was nothing like those their brother was wearing that night, nor was there any evidence given of him handling firearms. The magazine allegedly found on their brother, they pointed out came from a 'sterling' sub-machine gun, a weapon used extensively at that time by British forces. They also pointed out the inconsistency between the soldier's claims the youth was about to open fire was armed with a pistol, and the claim that a sub-machine gun magazine was found on their brother's body.

They also said the uncover unit responsible for the killing was obviously in radio contact with the other soldiers inside the armoured car and therefore would have been able to warn them if there had been any threat. Why then, they asked, did the soldiers concealed in the derelict house, if they saw this 'suspicious' youth with a pistol, not have him arrested instead of shooting at him and other youths? After all the soldiers, they said, did admit in their evidence at the inquest they had had the youths under observation for some time before the shooting.

The jury returned an open verdict.

Bernard's family said at the conclusion of the hearing the coroner, commenting on the soldiers evidence, said that if the inquest had been held in England the British soldiers involved would have been charged with murder.

Bernard's family said none of his clothing was ever returned to them.

No British soldier was ever charged in connection with the killing of Bernard Fox.